DualBoot Windows 10 with native boot on vhdx file.

After you create your VHD and have applied the OS into it..
To Add the VHD to your Host Boot Menu

With ? being the current drive letter assigned to the monted VHD
Bcdboot ?:\Windows

This video explains how to set up a native boot VHD:



For full instructions, see this post in Ten Forums video thread.

Kari

einstein1969 said:

I have the ISO "Win10_2004_Italian_x64.iso" downloaded with the microsoft tools. How do I extract the .wim or the .esd?

Mount the ISO file as virtual DVD (tutorial). WIM or ESD image (install.wim or install.esd) can be found in X;\Sources folder, X: being the drive letter of mounted ISO.

Kari

einstein1969 said:

Thanks again.

I installed the 2004 version in dualboot on .vhdx file.

I had some problems with the script because in case of an error, these errors were not seen. I made changes to the script and added checks in case of errors and more so it is more convenient to use...

Code:

@echo off

Rem check amministrative privileges
>nul 2>&1 "%SYSTEMROOT%\system32\cacls.exe" "%SYSTEMROOT%\system32\config\system"
if '%errorlevel%' NEQ '0' Echo Run with amministrative privileges! & pause & exit

Rem Set the destination dir of .vhdx file
set "vhdx_dir=C:\VHD"

Rem Set the path of Install.wim
::set "wim_dir=I:\sources"

Rem Set the index of version to install
set "index=8"

Rem Set the boot description
set "boot_desc=W10 PRO EN-GB (VHD)"

mkdir %vhdx_dir%
cd /D %vhdx_dir%
(
echo create vdisk file="%vhdx_dir%\DualBoot.vhdx" maximum=51200 type=expandable
echo attach vdisk
echo create partition primary
echo format label="DualBootVHD" quick
echo assign letter=W
echo exit
) >"VHDConfig.txt"

start /B /wait diskpart /s VHDConfig.txt
if '%errorlevel%' NEQ '0' echo( & echo ###### Error! ###### & pause & exit
start /B /wait dism /apply-image /imagefile:%wim_dir%\install.wim /index:%index% /applydir:W:\
if '%errorlevel%' NEQ '0' echo( & echo ###### Error! ###### & pause & exit
start /B /wait bcdboot W:\Windows
if '%errorlevel%' NEQ '0' echo( & echo ###### Error! ###### & pause & exit
start /B /wait bcdedit /set {default} description "%boot_desc%"
if '%errorlevel%' NEQ '0' echo( & echo ###### Error! ###### & pause & exit
cls
echo. 
echo Windows deployed to VHD file
echo and added to host boot menu.
echo.
pause
exit

Kari, if you want you can update your thread by adding this script if you want.

I always add switches /p /d after bcdboot command so the new vhd does not become the default boot drive, and also it is not placed first in boot menu.

cereberus said:

I always add switches /p /d after bcdboot command so the new vhd does not become the default boot drive, and also it is not placed first in boot menu.

I put the VHD entry first / default on purpose. First OOBE boot requires a few restarts, having new VHD entry as default I don't have to remain on PC to choose it after every restart when boot menu is shown.

I can always change the order and change default OS when VHD has been fully setup and booted to desktop first time.

Kari